Can garlic be the savory secret to a bug-free garden? Companion planting with garlic, using garlic sprays and powder on plants can repel and even kill pests because of its potent smell and sulfur-containing compounds, making it a powerful natural insecticide and fungicide. However, it can also repel beneficial insects. In this article, we will …
Imagine stepping into your garden, only to find your eggplants struggling while their neighboring plants flourish. This is a consequence of mismatched companion planting. Eggplants struggle when planted together with nightshades (e.g. tomatoes, potatoes), brassicas (e.g. broccoli, cabbage), squash, cucumbers, asparagus, fennel, and corn due to incompatible soil requirements, nutrient competition, shared pests, and chemical …
9 Bad Companions for Eggplants (Compatibility Alert) Read More »
If you are looking for a solution to all the problems in gardening, it would most likely be mulching. Mulching retains moisture, prevents erosion, prevents weeds, maintains soil temperature, prevents diseases, and even increases crop yield and immunity. In this article, we will show you how mulching can achieve these magical functions in your garden. …
Soil inoculant products are gaining popularity in organic, natural gardens as they are quick and effective in increasing beneficial soil microbes for plants. There are many such products in the market. Of the 8 most popular inoculant products in the market, we recommend Great White, Mikrobs, and Myco Bliss for different purposes. In this article, …
Top 8 Soil Inoculants for Plants (Editor’s Picks) Read More »
You’ve heard all the buzz about vermicompost, or “worm poop”. The organic substance decomposed by worms is soft like humus and is often used as a type of compost in organic gardens. How good is vermicompost as a fertilizer when compared to the other fertilizer types? Vermicompost is the best fertilizer compared to synthetic NPK …
Is Vermicompost The Best Fertilizer? (4 Types Compared) Read More »
Having hydrophobic soil that repels water can be frustrating. But there are many ways to fix the problem naturally and organically. A quick fix to hydrophobic soil is using wetting agents to reduce the cohesion and surface tension of the water to better infiltrate the soil. More permanent solutions include adding organic matter and mulching …
8 Proven Ways To Fix Hydrophobic Soil (Organically) Read More »
Some people fertilize their orchids using things from the kitchen, like coffee, milk, or even bananas. However, not anything natural is a good fertilizer for indoor orchids, which are mostly epiphytic (or orchids that do not grow in soil). Since most orchids do not grow like most plants in soil, a good natural fertilizer should …
Homemade Orchid Fertilizer That Actually Works (With Recipe) Read More »
Time and again people say that the secret to their healthy plants is just one thing: rice water—the water they use to wash rice before cooking. Similarly, others recycle the water used in washing beans or in cooking potatoes to water their plants. Is rice water or potato water a good fertilizer for orchids? Although …
While kelp may be a familiar term, its benefits for home gardens, particularly for struggling orchids, are lesser-known. How is kelp or seaweed beneficial for orchids? Kelp or seaweed extract is an excellent organic stimulant for plant growth. It is not a fertilizer but a rich source of growth hormones, especially auxin for root growth. …
Kelp/Seaweed Extract: Magical Rooting Stimulant for Orchids Read More »
It is well-known that leftover coffee or spent coffee grounds makes a great organic fertilizer for the garden. But, is coffee really good for your orchids as well, especially if you grow them indoors? Coffee is not good for epiphytic orchids because they don’t grow in soil with organisms to break down the nitrogen in …
Is Coffee Really Good for Orchids? (Here’s the Truth) Read More »
